NJ man pleads guilty to ramming Chabad world headquarters in Crown Heights

"Dan Sohail, 36, of Carteret, New Jersey, admitted to one count of intentionally damaging religious property, a federal civil rights charge that carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines and roughly $19,000 in restitution to the synagogue. Federal prosecutors did not pursue hate crime charges as part of the plea agreement. Prosecutors estimated that federal sentencing guidelines call for zero to six months in prison."

"The plea resolves the federal case against Sohail, who was arrested at the scene on Jan. 28 after driving his 2012 Honda Accord into the side entrance of the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway during an event marking the anniversary of the death of the Chabad movement's spiritual leader. Dozens of people were inside at the time. No one was injured."

"According to a criminal complaint, Sohail pulled up to the side entrance around 8:40 p.m., got out of his car, moved protective stanchions and gestured for congregants to move away from the doors. He then returned to his vehicle and accelerated into the entrance, reversing and ramming it four more times, the complaint states. Prosecutors said the impact knocked the door off its hinges and destroyed his car's front bumper."

"The Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters is widely recognized as the global center of the Hasidic movement and has served as a synagogue and home to the group's spiritual leaders since the 1940s. Before U.S. District Judge Eric Vitaliano, Sohail arrived in a Rikers-issued jumpsuit with long, unkempt hair and a bushy beard. He answered the judge's questions in a loud, clear voice and admitted to intentionally driving into the Chabad doors."

A 36-year-old man from Carteret, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to intentionally damaging religious property at the Chabad-Lubavitch global headquarters in Crown Heights. He drove his car into the synagogue’s side entrance multiple times during an event marking the anniversary of the death of the movement’s spiritual leader. Prosecutors said he moved protective stanchions, gestured for congregants to move away, then accelerated into the entrance, reversed, and rammed the building four more times. The impact knocked the door off its hinges and destroyed his car’s front bumper. No injuries were reported. Federal prosecutors did not pursue hate crime charges, and sentencing guidelines estimated zero to six months in prison.

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